FAQ's
Elizabeth
When
and where was Dame Elizabeth born?
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, at 2.30am in
Hampstead, North London, England.
For who was Dame Elizabeth named?
Dame Elizabeth was named after both of her grandmothers. Her middle name,
Rosemond, was after Elizabeth’s father’s aunt, Mabel Rosemond.
What colour are Dame Elizabeth’s eyes?
Dame Elizabeth possesses probably the most famous eyes of all time, a deep
blue/violet, that change colour depending on what she’s wearing.
What is Dame Elizabeth’s religion?
Although Elizabeth was raised a Christian Scientist, she converted to
Judaism at Hollywood’s Temple Israel on March 27, 1959. Although she wanted
to convert to the Jewish faith while Mike Todd was alive, her desire to do
so reached a fever pitch after his tragic death. Elizabeth wrote: “Now, in
my steady, gnawing grief for Mike, I felt a desperate need for a formalized
religion. I had discovered that I had no way of expressing myself in prayer
other than an almost wordless howl to God—’Oh, God, oh God, oh God.’ I
wanted something more channeled, more profound, more satisfying.” Elizabeth
said she had always felt a connection towards the Jewish faith. “I felt
terribly sorry for the suffering of the Jews during the war. I was attracted
to their heritage. I guess I identified with them as underdogs.” According
to Elizabeth, she “studied for about nine months, went to the temple
regularly and converted.” Elizabeth’s Hebrew name is Elisheba Rachel.
Elizabeth has always been very proud of her adopted faith—finding great
comfort and peace in her adopted religion.
Where did Dame Elizabeth receive her education?
Byron House (Highgate, North London)
Madame Vacani (school of dance; South Kensington, London)
Willard Elementary School (Pasadena)
Hawthorne Elementary School (Beverly Hills)
Universal schoolroom
MGM’s Little Red Schoolhouse (Culver City)

Byron House (Highgate, North London)
Is Dame Elizabeth British or
American?
There has always been much confusion surrounding the nationality of Dame
Elizabeth. Although born in England, her parents were American, so Elizabeth
was born with dual citizenship. But early in her career, Elizabeth gave up
her British citizenship to prevent paying additional taxes to her native
country. However, because of recent changes in the law, Elizabeth again
received dual citizenship when she married Michael Wilding in England in
1952. After she married Richard Burton, Elizabeth, by choice, became solely
a British citizen, saying: “It is not true that I love America less, but I
love my husband more.” After Elizabeth married John Warner, Elizabeth
decided to again become an American citizen, but admitted that the process
would take several years. It hadn’t been completed by the time rumours
swirled that Warner might run for the Senate, which prompted Elizabeth to
say: “I couldn’t vote for him anyway. I’m still a British citizen.”
Elizabeth, now a Dame of the British Empire, holds both American and British
passports.
What ailments does Dame Elizabeth suffer from? Why is she in a
wheelchair?
Dame Elizabeth suffers from congestive heart failure, osteoporosis, and back
pain caused by scoliosis (double curvature of the spine). “I was born with
it, but it has finally caught up with me,” [said] Dame Elizabeth said of the
latter in 2004. “My body’s a real mess. If you look at in the mirror, it’s
just completely convex and concave. I’ve become one of those poor little old
women who’s bent sideways. My X-rays are hysterical. The bone doctors just
throw up their hands and say, ‘Sorry, there’s nothing we can do!’ Which is
so cheery.” A year later Dame Elizabeth said, “The pain prevents me from
doing the things I want to do, and it really irritates me. It’s osteoporosis
and scoliosis—a double curvature of the spine—and it can be excruciating.
When I go out now, I have to use a wheelchair, which doesn’t dampen my
spirits, but I get cheesed off when I can’t just pack a bag and go where I
want to.”
Films
How did Dame Elizabeth get her start in show business?
While
fleeing war torn England aboard the S.S. Manhattan in 1939, little Elizabeth
saw Shirley Temple in The Little Princess and knew then and there her
future occupation. “I don’t want to be a movie star,” proclaimed the seven
year old. “I want to become an actress.”
The Taylors were given a letter of introduction to famed gossip columnist
Hedda Hopper from their friend, Thelma Cazalet Keir. After making a stop at
Francis Taylor’s Los Angeles art gallery, Hopper wrote of her visit in her
column. There was a small mention of the future actress, but nothing came of
it.
Complete strangers would often suggest that little Elizabeth, who looked
like a young Vivien Leigh, should try her luck in pictures. While on a tour
of the MGM lot with neighbour and MGM producer John Considine, Jr., studio
head Louis B. Mayer wanted Elizabeth to sign a contract with the studio,
but, for whatever reason, one was never drawn up. Not long after, Andrea
Berens, a client of Francis Taylor’s and fiancée of Universal Pictures
chairman and stockholder Cheever Cowdin, eargerly suggested that her fiancée
take a look at Elizabeth. The two came to the Taylors house for tea, and
Cowdin invited Sara and Elizabeth to come to Universal for a tour, with
perhaps a screen test down the line. Soon after, Elizabeth did complete a
screen test for Universal, and in April 1941 she was given a six month
contract at $100 per week, with an option to renew.
When did Dame Elizabeth make her film debut?
Dame Elizabeth made her film debut in the 1942 Universal picture, There’s
One Born Every Minute. It would be her only film for Universal before
they dropped her after not knowing what to do with a child who looked older
than her years.
When did Dame Elizabeth sign with MGM?
Elizabeth, who would have preferred to have signed with MGM over Universal
anyway, would soon have her chance to work for the studio that had “More
Stars than there are in the Heavens”. After the option on her contract was
not picked up by Universal, MGM producer Sam Marx asked Elizabeth to
audition for a role in Lassie Come Home. Marx, who had been an
air-raid warden alongside Elizabeth’s father during World War II in Beverly
Hills, remembered hearing about the beautiful aspiring actress, and thought
she might be a good last minute replacement for the young girl who had grown
too tall for the role. Elizabeth won the part, and the rest, as they say, is
history.
When and why did Dame Elizabeth leave MGM?
Elizabeth left MGM after she completed BUtterfield 8. The studio
system that contractually bound film stars to a particular studio was going
out of favour, and Elizabeth wanted to become a freelance actress, able to
choose her own films and negotiate her own salaries. Her first film after
leaving MGM would, of course, be Cleopatra, one of the most talked
about films ever made.
How many movies did Dame Elizabeth make?
Elizabeth appeared in fifty-four theatrical films, and nine television
films.
How many times was Dame Elizabeth nominated for an Academy Award and how
many times did she win?
Dame Elizabeth was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award five times,
for Raintree County; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Suddenly, Last
Summer; BUtterfield 8; and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
She won for the latter two, and was also presented with the Jean Hersholt
Humanitarian Award for her AIDS work in 1993.
Of which of her films is Dame Elizabeth most proud?
Dame Elizabeth is most proud of her work in Who’s Afraid of Virginia
Woolf? The runner up is National Velvet; a film she has said
mirrored her own life at the time.
Family
Where
were Dame Elizabeth’s parents and grandparents born?
Elizabeth’s mother, Sara Viola Warmbodt, was born in Arkansas City, Kansas,
as were her parents, Samuel and Anna Warmbrodt. Elizabeth’s father, Francis
Lenn Taylor, was born in Springfield, Illinois. His father, a merchant, was
from Indiana. Francis’s mother was born in Ohio.
How many times has Dame Elizabeth been married?
Dame Elizabeth Taylor has been married eight times to seven men (she
famously married and divorced Richard Burton twice).
Nicky Hilton – May 6, 1950-February 1, 1951 (divorced)
Michael Wilding – February 21, 1952-January 30, 1957 (divorced)
Mike Todd – February 2, 1957-March 22, 1958 (widowed)
Eddie Fisher – May 12, 1959-March 6, 1964 (divorced)
Richard Burton – March 15, 1964-June 26, 1974 (divorced)
Richard Burton – October 10, 1975-August 1, 1976 (divorced)
John Warner – December 4, 1976-November 7, 1982 (divorced)
Larry Fortensky – October 6, 1991-October 31, 1996 (divorced)
Does Dame Elizabeth have any children?
Dame Elizabeth has four children:
Michael Howard Wilding, Jr. (b. January 6, 1953)
Christopher Edward Wilding (b. February 27, 1955)
Elizabeth ‘Liza’ Frances Todd (b. August 6, 1957)
Maria Burton (b. August 1, 1961) (adopted)
Does Dame Elizabeth have any grandchildren or great-grandchildren?
Dame Elizabeth has ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Where are Nicky Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, and Richard Burton
buried?
Nicky Hilton is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California;
Michael Wilding was cremated and his ashes were scattered; Mike Todd is
buried at the Walheim Jewish Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois; and Richard
Burton is buried at the Protestant Churchyard, Celigny, Switzerland.
What are some good books to read about Dame Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor by Alexander Walker, A
Passion for Life: The Biography of Elizabeth Taylor by Donald Spoto, and
Who’s Afraid of Elizabeth Taylor? by Brenda Maddox are probably best
biographies of Dame Elizabeth. Be sure to read Dame Elizabeth’s four books,
Nibbles and Me, An Informal Memoir, Elizabeth Takes Off,
and My Love Affair with Jewelry, as well as Melvyn Bragg’s biography
of Richard Burton, Rich: The Life of Richard Burton.
AIDS
and more
When did Dame Elizabeth help found amfAR? When was The Elizabeth Taylor
HIV/AIDS Foundation founded? How much has she helped to raise?
Dame Elizabeth founded amfAR alongside several other heroes in the summer of
1985. The Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation was founded in 1992. The two
foundations had raised a combined total of $270 million dollars by 2006.
What are the dates that Dame Elizabeth appeared on the covers of: Life,
People, Time, Newsweek, Saturday Evening Post,
Look, and Esquire magazines?
Life: Dame Elizabeth has appeared on the cover of Life 14
times, more times than any other film star. Covers: July 14, 1947; October
15, 1956; November 4, 1957; April 28, 1961; October 6, 1961; April 13, 1962;
April 19, 1963; December 18, 1964; June 10, 1966; February 24, 1967;
February 25, 1972; March 1, 1981; February 1, 1992; and April 1, 1997. She
was also featured on the cover of Life: In Hollywood, published in
2003 by Life Books.
People: May 19, 1975; March 15, 1976; February 14, 1977; October 23,
1978; October 20, 1980; December 28, 1981; March 15, 1982; October 6, 1986;
January 18, 1988; January 25, 1988; December 26, 1988; March 13, 1989; April
9, 1990; October 21, 1991; July 26, 1993; March 4, 1996.
Time: August 22, 1949.
Newsweek: March 25, 1963; June 28, 1999. (Elizabeth and the cast of
Life with Father were also on the cover of Newsweek around the
time the film was released. Unfortunately I don’t have that issue to confirm
the date.)
Saturday Evening Post: June 1, 1963; December 3, 1966; and November
1977.
Look: February 13, 1951; September 11, 1951; August 24, 1954; June
26, 1956; October 14, 1958; April 17, 1960; August 15, 1961; February 27,
1962; May 7, 1963; April 21, 1964; March 9, 1965; February 8, 1966; October
4, 1966; June 27, 1967; and June 16, 1970.
Esquire: April 1952; August 1963; and November 1964.
When did Dame Elizabeth begin her “love affair with jewelry”?
Dame Elizabeth has always loved jewelry, and the first piece she acquired
was a gift for her beloved mother. She became a serious collector during her
marriage to Mike Todd, who bought her many exquisite pieces, and she has
continued collecting ever since, amassing one of the great collections,
including such historic pieces as the Krupp diamond, La Peregrina Pearl, The
Taylor Burton diamond, and more. For more on Dame Elizabeth’s collection,
please click here.
How much did Dame Elizabeth’s wedding to Larry Fortensky cost and who
paid for it?
Dame Elizabeth’s wedding to Larry Fortensky cost in excess of $1.5 million
dollars. Much of the wedding was planned by Elizabeth’s dear friend Michael
Jackson who also paid for the wedding which took place at his Neverland
estate.
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